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Board Notes A Summary of the March 26, 2009, Tyler ISD Board of Trustees Meeting
Board Recognizes Students, Staff and Foundation The Board of Trustees recognized Beth Ann McCloskey, a senior, at Robert E. Lee High School for receiving the President's Volunteer Service Award for her exemplary volunteer service. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program recognizes young people across America for outstanding community service activities. The program's goals are to applaud young people who already are making a positive difference in their towns and neighborhoods, and to inspire others to think about how they might contribute to their communities.
The district also recognized a district employee who has gone beyond in her pursuit of her educational career by obtaining her doctorate degrees. Julie Delello, Coordinator of Intervention in the Curriculum and Instruction department has earned a Ph.D. with a degree title of Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in science and technology from Texas A&M University-College Station, Texas.
Congratulations to Austin, Peete and Andy Woods elementary schools for being selected as 2008 "Just for the Kids" Higher Performing Schools based on their performances in reading. The schools were chosen as higher performing campuses based on analyses conducted by the National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA). NCEA's analysis included student test results from spring 2006, 2007 and 2008. NCEA used an academic growth analysis that examined whether the students in each school performed above predicted based on their prior year's scores.
Board Accepts Retirement of Administrators The Board of Trustees accepted of the following administrator retirements:
Jane Bidlack, Principal of Bell Elementary Rebecca Clapp, Principal of Caldwell Elementary Connie Moore, Principal of Woods Elementary Lyndia Towels-Reed, Director of Head Start Chalna Trawick, Director of Advanced Studies
Dr. Reid also announced that Dr. Karen Raney, Director of Secondary Education, will move into a new role as Director of Assessment and Research. The Director of Secondary Education position will be posted soon and the District hopes to fill the position in the coming months.
Board Approves Cancellation of Trustee Election and Election of Unopposed Candidate The Board of Trustees approved the Order of Cancellation of Election and certify the election of Eleno Licea as trustee for Single Member District 1 to fill the unexpired term which expires in May 2010, Brad Spradlin as trustee for Single Member District 5 and Ron Vickery for Single Member District 7 for a term of three years expiring in May 2012.
Board Approves Change Order # 001 to RPR Construction Co., Inc. for Unused Allowances and General Conditions The Board of Trustees approved the Clarkston Elementary change order # 001 in the amount of $496,375.00. Initial construction documents mandated a temporary retaining wall to accommodate construction of the new campus and to retain the existing gymnasium. In an effort to expedite construction, the Administration determined that should the gymnasium be demolished during March 9 – 13, 2009, the temporary retaining wall would not need to be constructed. This accommodation has been reconciled by the relocation of the Clarkston staff to remodeled areas and additional portable buildings. Change Order # 001, will deduct Four Hundred Ninety-Six Thousand, Three Hundred Seventy Five Dollars, (-$496,375.00). This reduces the Guaranteed Maximum Price from $14,088,879.00 to $13,592,504.00.
Board Approves funding for English Language Arts Staff Development and Materials with America’s Choice The Board of Trustees approved $131,240.00 be spent for the staff development and materials to begin Phase I implementation of the TISD Literacy Program. America’s Choice literacy program is designed to provide a coherent approach from Kindergarten through high school and is consistent with the Literacy Collaborative initiative used with the 14 elementary schools at grades K-2. The program supports a standard-based comprehensive approach to literacy built around a workshop approach for reading and writing and a series of carefully crafted genre and author studies. The America’s Choice approach to teaching reading uses the Readers Workshop model. Using this model, teachers are able to more efficiently and effectively deliver the district’s adopted reading program. Teachers are able to differentiate instruction using the structures of the model in order to work with individual students and small groups of students.
America’s Choice will provide professional development and training to targeted district and school staff, using a rich set of materials that support successful implementation. All professional development sessions will be delivered by an America’s Choice trainer experienced in literacy for the applicable grade levels. These funds represent initial expenditures for the Phase I implementation to train K-2 teachers, elementary administrators, instructional specialists, literacy coaches, and to purchase America’s Choice reading and writing materials.
Facilities Department Provides Update on School Construction Projects Director of Facilities, Tim Loper, and construction Project Manager, Monte Robinett, provided the Board of Trustees an update on the progress of the school construction projects.
CLARKSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Special Ed classes have been relocated to other classrooms and portable buildings. Existing Special Ed area has been renovated to accommodate gym classes. Existing Gym building and foundation has been removed. Site demolition is complete. Excavation of the site is underway. Building Pad installation to start within next two weeks.
GRIFFIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Architectural plans were 100 % complete excluding civil and structural drawings. Currently, civil and structural engineers have been put on hold until further notice.
ORR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Site demolition is complete. Site grading and underground utilities are underway. Building Pad installation to start within next two weeks.
WOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Site demolition is complete. Site utilities installation has started. Importing of select fill for building pad to begin next week.
JONES/BOSHEARS Bids on the Civil package were received on 3-18-09. Construction documents for the building were distributed for bidding on 3-16-09 with bids scheduled to be received on April 9, 2009.
Technology Department Provides Update Director of Technology, John Orbaugh, provided the Board of Trustees an update on the status of technology projects. Wireless projects are completed at Griffin, Jones, Plyler, Hubbard, Owens, and Birdwell. A random E-rate audit was conducted on Tyler ISD and the result of “no findings” was announced. In the next week or two a report will be completed and given to the federal e-rate group. One stolen laptop from Boulter Middle School has been recovered. Tyler ISD Police Chief Rex Brown is investigating the laptop sold to a local Mexican restaurant. The restaurant owners are assisting District police with identifying the individual who sold them the laptop.
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